“Phakphong” eliminated from the World Youth Taekwondo Championships

Phakphong Jitrat', a 17-year-old rising star who won a silver medal at the 2024 Korea Open, lost to his opponent 0-2 in the last 32 rounds of the 2024 World Junior Taekwondo Championship. The 2024 World Junior Taekwondo Championships, 'Chuncheon 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships' in Chuncheon, South Korea, yesterday (October 3), had 3 gold medals up for grabs. Thailand sent 1 kicker to compete for a medal. 55 kg. Men's category, Phakphong Jitrat, a 17-year-old rising star kicker, a silver medalist in the Korea Open 2024 in July, who received a bye in the first round, competed in the second round in a blue suit against Prodomos Angelos Hajikosti of Cyprus. In the first round, both pairs exchanged exciting blows, finishing 10-10, but the Thai kicker lost on raw points, trailing 0-1 in the round. In the second round, Phakphong tried to move forward with his blows, but missed and was kicked in the head and body, losing another 10-18, losing 0-2 in the round, and being eliminated in the last 32. Phakph ong said after the match that he was disappointed with his performance because he felt excited and rushed to score too much, which caused him to miss many chances. From now on, he will go back to training harder to improve himself. 'Coach Che' Chatchai Che, head coach of the Thai national taekwondo team, revealed that after 3 days, Thai youth athletes still have not been able to win medals. From following, young athletes from around the world have improved, especially athletes from European countries who have improved a lot, are tall, and have good technique. Thailand must try to find a way to solve this problem by developing the children and recruiting athletes with tall and good technique to join the team. As for many young Thai athletes, they were nervous and could not perform as well as they had practiced. I have urged everyone to try not to be pressured and to play as best as they can. From this stage, I believe that everyone will gain valuable experience. However, in the remaining 3 days, there are st ill 10 Thai athletes scheduled to compete. I will not pressure the athletes, but I still believe that there will definitely be medals. Today's competition has 3 gold medals up for grabs. The Thai youth taekwondo team competed in all 3 categories. In the 49 kg women's category, "Kanom Jeeb" Natthakamon Wasana, the winner of the 2022 World Youth gold medal in the 44 kg category and the 2023 Asian champion in the 49 kg women's category, competed in the first round this morning against Ceylan Asli Cemre from Turkey. It turned out that Nong Kanom Jeeb, the blue armor, was superior, relying on the timing to intercept kicks to the head and body, winning by a landslide 2-0, 9-2 and 2-0, advancing to the second round to meet Alexandra Dimova from Bulgaria. 48kg Men's "Kongthap" Sorachat Swasri, gold medalist at the 2024 Korea Open, Red Armor, unfortunately lost to Mehdi Razmian from Iran 1-2, 10-11, 11-6 and 9-11, and was eliminated in the first round. 44kg Women's First Round "Beauty" Nattawee Wongchu, the gold me dalist of the 2024 Korea Open, met Emma Kelch from Sweden. It turned out that Beauty was much better, winning by a landslide 2-0, 12-0 in both rounds, advancing to the second round to meet Rueya Erdem from Austria. Source: Thai News Agency